Monday, November 30, 2009

Being that I’m from NJ, I take pride when I see Jersey boys make it big. I remember seeing a little known film called Clerks back in the 90’s. It blew me away. The dialogue and comedy was perfection. When I found out the filmmaker was from NJ, it was one of those “A-ha” moments. Suddenly I saw the film in a different light. I saw characters in the film that reminded me of people that I grew up with. It was then that I became somewhat of a Clerks fanatic. Ok, enough rambling for now. Let’s get down to business: THE KEVIN SMITH COLLECTION on Blu-ray. If you love K-Smith’s films as much as I do, then you will NOT be let down with this set. On here are new Blu-ray Editions of Clerks and Chasing Amy, along with Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back. I remember the days of renting these on VHS, so to see these remastered versions was truly an awesome experience. The video quality never looked better. Each individual disc contains HOURS of entertainment with the film and all the bonus features. These aren’t really the kind of movies you need to watch on Blu-ray to really get the film. It’s the witty dialogue and trademark humor that does the trick all by itself. But what makes this set really stand out is the BONUS FEATURES. I am not kidding when I say that I spent hours glued to the TV with these extra features. The Clerks disc has a really long feature showing you how Clerks eventually became the cult classic that it is today. You get to see pieces of Kevin Smith’s life growing up, interviews with friends and family and much more. The Chasing Amy disc has some really great Q&A with the cast, giving you further insight into Kevin’s neurotic relationship issues that inspired this great film! Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back (their “selling out” film”) has commentary with Kevin Smith, Scott Mosier and Jason Mewes, Deleted Scenes, a gag reel, and lots more.

I guess I’m biased because of the fact that I consider myself a K-Smith movie buff. But seriously, this set is one of the best that I’ve come across. Overall, I consider this one a big hit.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

One thing that’s been consistent with Pixar’s films is how much they amaze me each time I watch. Although, I was a little let down by Bolt. However, Up restored my faith in Pixar’s ability to create a technologically advanced and profound film. The animation and story for Up is one of Pixar’s best to date. With the DVD finally out, us viewers finally get a chance to bring it home. As always, Disney puts out a high quality set with the 4-disc Blu-ray & DVD Combo Pack. With crystal clear video and amazing sound quality, this is a must have set. Packed with extra features galore including commentaries, an original short film about my new favorite movie dog named Dug, and alternate endings that the filmakers thought of using to get rid of the enemy known as Muntz! Seriously, I can’t tell you how entertaining this set really is without seeing it for yourself. Overall, Up is one of the most adventurous animated films in recent years that has a subtle way of reminding you to not let life pass you by. I highly recommend checking it out.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Veteran hard rockers known as Skillet are out with a new album called Awake. Notice I used the word “veteran”, because well, they’ve been around the Christian rock scene for some time. However, recently they started getting more recognition in the music industry. I remember seeing them featured not too long ago for Awake in a Best Buy circular under the hot new acts section. It’s funny though because Skillet isn’t really a new act. Like I said, they’ve been around for some time. Well, I guess they’re new if you’re not too familiar with Christian rock. Anyway, if you never heard them, Awake is a great album to start with. I’d say if there’s an album that will thrust them into the limelight, this will be the one. Skillet is one of those bands who’s at their best when their rocking hard AND playing sweet ballads. It’s hard to pull off songs on both extremes like that, but Skillet does it quite well here. For example, one of the album’s harder tracks called Monster is trademark Skillet. It’s an aggressive song that deals the internal struggles that most of us can relate to. On the other hand there is the slower song Don't Wake Me, which is the perfect example of how they can pull off a nice ballad. Overall, this is an album worth checking out whether you’re a long time fan, or just finding out about Skillet.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Get ready for an awesome film experience with the latest animated DC Universe Animated Original Movie: Superman/Batman: Public Enemies. This is one tense film. With a Kryptonite asteroid on its way to hit Earth and Lex Luthor as the nation’s President, things don’t look too bright. Add in the fact that Luthor puts out a $1 billion bounty on the heads of Superman and Batman and declaring them enemies, things look pretty bleak. But leave it to the Man of Steele and the Dark Knight to rise up against some insurmountable odds. This film (out now on DVD) takes a unique look at what it would be like to see an enemy become a President, and our heroes become outlaws. Like every other DC Universe Animated Original Movie, this one is rated PG-13 and it appeals to grown-ups hungry for a good action film, as much as younger viewers. The animation, story and action scenes are very impressive in this film. Overall, it’s hard to pick my favorite out of these DC Original movies that WHV keeps putting out. But I would have to say that this one is definitely in the top 3. Overall, it’s a film I definitely recommend to anyone looking for a good superhero film.

I saw MUTEMATH in concert this weekend. This marks the 4th time that I’ve seen them in NYC, and so far I’ve never been disappointed. The last 3 venues I saw them play were B.B. Kings, Gramercy Theater, and Irving Plaza. This time was different as they played right in the heart of Times Square at the Nokia Theater. I was reminded how far this quartet from New Orleans has made it when on my way to find parking, I saw their video for Typical played on the big screen outside the theater. This show was part of their “Armistice Fall Tour”, so I already expected to not hear the soaring intro that they’ve always done to start off their shows before exploding into Typical. This time, the band wasted no time when they took the stage as the floor started rumbling to the thunderous track The Nerve. With the crowd singing “Set it on fire!” along with Paul Meany, it was a great way to bring in their new material in a live setting. I admit when I first heard the Armistice album, I wasn’t as impressed as I thought I would be. However, it grew on me after time and I enjoyed it each time I played it. Hearing them played live was a different experience. If you thought hearing songs like Backfire, Clipping, and Armistice were great, wait until you hear them in concert! The execution of each track was flawless, giving me a new appreciation for their latest album. Of course, it wouldn’t be a real MuteMath show without hearing songs like Control, Chaos, Typical, and Break The Same (which they all played). However one of the best surprises of the night came when they played a song that only the most loyal MuteMath fans would recognize: Peculiar People! I was real happy to see them play that song, as it is the second song I heard from them back in 2005, after hearing Control. Overall, MuteMath put on a hell of a performance, giving these Tri-State fans exactly what they came to see: a loud, energetic, and unforgettable performance. If you never saw this band live, I highly recommend doing so the next time they come around.

Friday, November 13, 2009

No, we’re not talking about Antonio Banderas version. I’m talking about the ORIGINAL, black and white Disney series that’s been re-released on an awesome DVD collection. Seasons 1 and 2 have been brought to DVD and they come in a special tin collector’s case and contain each episode in some really clear audio and video quality. These sets are definitely a must have for any fan. As always expected from Disney, they provide this time some really high quality sets for Seasons 1 and 2. I enjoyed watching these very much. To be able to relive this classic show and see it in all its DVD glory was a lot of fun. To give you an idea of what’s on these sets, check this out:

All 78 episodesBoth sets hosted by Leonard MaltinEach set includes a Zorro pin, an authenticity certificate, and exclusive Lithograph

Thursday, November 12, 2009

David Dark is a pretty smart guy. He’s the kind of guy that uses big words that will have you grabbing your dictionary to understand. His writing is thought-provoking and engaging. With all of that said, he’s got a new book out. This one is called The Sacredness of Questioning Everything, and it will really stretch your mind. As you can tell from the title, this book encourages “questioning”. Questioning what, you may ask? Question our pre-conceived notions about God, philosophy, politics, you name it. In fact, he says true questioning is actually healthy. Using lots of pop-culture references, personal stories, and his unique perspective on things, this book is definitely an eye-opener. It may shake some people out of their comfort zone, but it is definitely a valuable piece of literature.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

David Crowder Band is one of the most creative bands you’d hear these days. The thing is, they make music for the church (Christian). So chances are if you’re not a Christian, you probably haven’t had the chance to hear this great band. There’s been this ongoing debate about what defines “Christian” music, and whether or not it simply all sucks. There is the “Christian version of a mainstream act”, which usually equates to a lack of creativity from an artist where they see their music strictly to share their faith. While I can see where they are coming from, the quality of the music is usually low. Now here’s the kicker with David Crowder Band. They are definitely “Christian” as far as the messages in their songs. That part is clear so you know where they stand with that. But the quality of their sound is definitely original and I would even say better than some mainstream acts. The thought just popped in my head if there’ll be a day when we’ll see a mainstream version of a Christian band. One thing is sure, if that day ever comes, David Crowder Band would be the band that people copy from. Take their latest album Church Music for example. If I had to choose one word to describe it, I would say EPIC. From start to finish this is a well produced, hypnotic album that takes you away with each track. With this band, you never know what to expect with their wide range of influences. Here, they incorporate everything from rock to electronica to create probably their best album to date. Another nice surprise is the guest appearances by the band Eisley and Lacey from Flyleaf on various tracks. So if you’re already a fan of the DCB, then you’ll see they upped their standard a bit more on this release. And I must say, even if you’re not a believer, give this album a try. You’ll be in for a surprise. Trust me.

Friday, November 06, 2009

The gang is back from Ice Age, and this time they meet some more prehistoric friends. As if the Ice Age films weren’t good enough, adding dinosaurs to the cast makes it a whole lot better! Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs finds Manny as a proud new dad, and Sid thinking he is one. When Sid finds some abandoned eggs, he takes them as his own, not realizing they’re dino-eggs! That sets off a chain of events that put the gang against some Jurassic giants! This film was lots of fun to watch. Just like the others, everything from the animation and comedy is in top form. The DVD is out now and it contains lots of fun extra features such as two special Scrat shorts, deleted scenes, director’s commentary, and an Ice Age digital story book maker. Make sure you don’t miss out on this one!

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

I don’t have the time to keep up with regular TV. That’s why I’m thankful for TV sets on DVD. Two and a Half Men is one of those shows that I would watch religiously, if I had the time. Since I don’t, I’m glad to be able to catch it on DVD. The latest season to be released on DVD is season six. This four-disc set contains all 24 crazy episodes of this hilarious show. Yeah, sometimes it’s over-the- top, but that’s what makes it great. Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer work great together as the comedic duo of the show. One of the highlights of this sixth season is seeing Charlie’s character begin to take some responsibly when he thinks he’s the father of one of his ex-girlfriend's kids (the joke's on him)! Overall, this is a great DVD set that provides hours of laughter.

The eighth season of the longest running “Superman” TV series is out in a fantastic DVD set. Otherwise known as Smallville (you heard of it right?), this show proves that it’s among TV’s best as it has made it this far. In this eighth season, two characters draw closer to their destiny: Clark as Superman, and Davis Bloome as Doomsday! The season is filled with so many thrills and new characters that it leaves no room for it to be lacking in entertainment value. On this DVD set, all 22 episodes are here along with tons of extra features, including a special one called “Smallville’s Doomsday: The Making of a Monster.” This set is extremely entertaining from start to finish and I highly recommend it.

On these sets, Warner Home Video features some of the best cartoons that spanned both decades. There are over five hours of animated goodness on each set giving viewers plenty of shows to indulge in. To give you an idea of what's included on each set, check this out. On the 1960’s set, there are 2-discs with a nice mix of retro classics such as The Jetsons, Quick Draw McGraw, Young Samson and Goliath, The Bugs Bunny Show, The Porky Pig Show, The Adventures of Gulliver, The Wally Gator Show, and The Magilla Gorilla Show! The 1970’s set also is a 2–disc set and it contains episodes from shows such as The New Adventures of Gilligan, Valley of the Dinosaurs, Sea Lab 2020, Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan, The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour, The Tom and Jerry/Grape Ape Show, and The New Adventures of Batman and Robin!

For anyone that loves cartoons, these sets provide hours and hours of pure entertainment. With all these rare shows on each set, I definitely think these are not to be missed!

For your viewing pleasure, check out these video clips from the DVD's:

Monday, November 02, 2009

What do you think of when you hear the name Bruckheimer? Do you think only of blockbuster movies? How about a real thought provoking TV show? Eleventh Hour is a fast-paced series produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and it’s out for the first time on DVD. This show is based on the British miniseries by writer Stephen Gallagher and it’s one that effectively combines science and the excitement of a great investigative show. Think of it like X-Files, minus the UFO’s and paranormal stuff. The Complete Series DVD set is one that is a must see for anyone that likes their crime dramas mixed in with a little scientific crises. Starring Rufus Sewell and Marley Shelton, this show is not to be missed. This packed set contains 6-Discs with 18 Episodes from this memorable show. For more info on where to get this exclusive DVD set, click here.